Help celebrate Memorial Day

May 14, 2012
There will be a Memorial Day Ceremony on May 25 at noon on the steps of Springfield City Hall, 36 Court St.
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day is a day of remembrance for military personnel who have died in service to our nation. The actual origin of the memorial is not clear, with over two dozen cities and towns claiming to be the birthplace of Memorial Day.
Memorial Day was first officially observed on May 30, 1868. Flowers were placed on graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. By 1890, Memorial Day was recognized by all of the northern states. The southern states refused to participate, having their own commemoration for Civil War Veterans. After the First World War, the South began to honor Americans who died in any war, along with the North.
Memorial Day is now celebrated in almost every state on the last Monday in May. Memorial Day was declared as a National Holiday, by Congress, in 1971.
The traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years. Many Americans have forgotten the significance of the day, commemorating the loss of American life in preserving the Independence and freedoms that we enjoy today. But with your involvement, city employees and community members can change this trend. You can make a difference; plan to attend the ceremony on May 25, at 12 noon. Attending this city celebration is an excellent memorial for those who have been willing to die for our liberties. The liberties they fought to defend are still intact. America is still the greatest country in the world.
Veterans' Department
City of Springfield